In 2018, Sharice Davids tapped moderate views and flipped the Kansas 3rd Congressional District into Democratic hands. Davids, a mixed martial artist and first-generation college student, defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder. In doing so, she became the first LGBTQ Native American elected to Congress. Now she’s running for a fourth term against Lenexa oncologist […]
Sharice Davids challenged by Republican Dr. Prasanth Reddy in Kansas 3rd District
Posted inState Government
National marijuana companies recruit Missourians to land licenses meant for people harmed by weed prohibition
This story originally indicated that Mike Halow declined comment. A public relations firm representing him later said that was his father, who has the same name. Aimee Gromowsky was puzzled when she found a flier in her mailbox asking her to apply for a cannabis dispensary license. In bold letters on one side, it read: “ONCE […]
Posted inLocal Government
Kansas City wants to follow Grandview’s footsteps and open its own city-run DMV
Kansas City has two driver’s license offices serving more than 500,000 residents.
Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw thinks that’s a problem.
“If there’s someone who has a regular 8-to-5 job, they have to take off work to go and get their license renewed,” she said. “It’s, many times, long waits, long lines.”
Now the Kansas City Council is trying to open and run its own publicly owned DMV office. The council approved a resolution on Oct. 10 directing City Manager Brian Platt to look at the process, estimate any costs and recommend a possible location.
Posted inElections
Platte County voters to decide fate of sales tax to fund children’s mental health services
Platte County will vote on a new sales tax Nov. 5 to help fund mental health services for children. Backers of the quarter-cent tax include mental health service providers, who argue the money is needed to meet the growing needs in Platte County. The tax dollars would support mental well-being for children up to 19 […]
Posted inHealth
What’s in your weed? A Missouri state lab to check industry claims
Missouri plans to spend millions from state marijuana taxes on a laboratory to help regulators keep tabs on the safety and potency of more than $1 billion of joints, edibles and other cannabis products sold annually across the state. Health experts and consumer groups applauded the added regulatory check, outlined in an Oct. 11 report […]
Posted inKansas
Johnson County could be key to breaking the GOP’s supermajority in Kansas
A few moderate Republicans are the only reason transgender minors can still get gender-affirming care in Kansas. The GOP’s legislative supermajority tried to ban the practice until age 18. But conservatives fell two votes short of overriding Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto — thanks to those Republicans. Kansas Republicans have a veto-proof majority in both the […]
Posted inState Government
Kansas families helping intellectually disabled kids are burnt out, doing care for free, KU study says
Kansans helping friends or family who have intellectual disabilities are burnt out. They miss work, sometimes get a new job entirely and regularly offer daily care while paying for that help from their own pockets, a University of Kansas study said. Those families appealed to the state for help, but the intellectual developmental disability, or […]
Posted inElections
Would sports betting boost Missouri school funding? There’s no guarantee, experts say
Missourians are being asked to legalize sports betting by passing Amendment 2. The campaign promises tens of millions will go to Missouri schools.
Posted inElections
Frustration about crime shapes race for next Jackson County prosecutor
Jean Peters Baker is stepping down after serving as Jackson County prosecutor since 2011. Democrat Melesa Johnson and Republican Tracey Chappell are running to replace her.
Posted inBehind the Beacon
How Suzanne King’s reporting highlights local health care gaps
Ever since Suzanne King joined The Beacon as a full-time health care reporter, she’s been diving into critical, underreported issues that affect the wellbeing of millions. King, who stepped into the role last fall, recently published a three-part series investigating the causes and effects of Kansas City-area pharmacies closing. But that’s just her latest. Over […]